Zeus-2D Simulations of Laser-Driven Radiative Shock Experiments

A series of experiments is underway using the Omega laser to examine radiative shocks of astrophysical relevance. In these experiments, the laser accelerates a thin layer of low-Z material, which drives a strong shock into xenon gas. One-dimensional numerical simulations using the HYADES radiation hydrodynamics code predict that radiation cooling will cause the shocked xenon to collapse spatially, producing a thin layer of high density (i.e., a collapsed shock). Preliminary experimental results show a less opaque layer of shocked xenon than would be expected assuming that all the xenon accumulates in the layer and that the X-ray source is a pure Kα source. However, neither of these assumptions is strictly correct. Here we explore whether radial mass and/or energy transport may be significant to the dynamics of the system. We report the results of two-dimensional numerical simulations using the ZEUS-2D astrophysical fluid dynamics code. Particular attention is given to the simulation method.